A Very Reddit Thanksgiving

No one gets into the holiday spirit quite like redditors do, so we wanted to highlight some of our favorite Turkey Day-themed posts from communities across the site. Over the past few days, we’ve seen everything from r/aww-inspiring pics of holiday pets to a site-wide surge of activism over Thanksgiving, so sit back, pour yourself a steamy mug of hot apple cider, and enjoy this cornucopia of content from some very creative users we’re thankful to have.

Grateful for an Open Internet

But first, redditors have proven that their passion for the open internet knows no bounds. In response to the pre-Thanksgiving news that the FCC plans to repeal its 2015 net neutrality rules, hundreds of thousands of redditors in communities large and small—from r/technology and r/politics to video game communities, r/PrequelMemes, and even r/trashpandas—have banded together to drive users to Battle for the Net’s website to learn how they can fight to protect the open internet.

Many redditors took note of the holiday timing of the announcement, which might otherwise have helped a story like this escape widespread public outcry. Thanks to the passion and organization of our users, however, yesterday’s front page ensured that anyone who visited Reddit was informed of the FCC’s announcement—and encouraged to go to Battle for the Net over their Thanksgiving break (hint, hint).

Okay, now back to the Xenomorphic turkeys and cute animals.

Home for the Hawwlidays

Thanksgiving is all about spending time with the ones you love, but it’s always nice to bring home a new loved one for the holidays—especially when they’re covered in fur and unable to start political arguments at dinner.

A few grateful redditors in r/aww have shared photos of the new family members they adopted this November, and these adorable floofs already look right at home, pacing under the table as they wait for fallen scraps of turkey.

Wood You Serve Dinner in This?

Redditors in the r/woodworking and r/woodcarving communities were quick to praise this post by u/orleansville, featuring a unique, turkey-shaped serving tray carefully carved by a talented friend. The community’s rave reviews ranged from “A bit freaky looking, but masterfully executed” to “What an abomination. I love it.”

A Very Spicy History Lesson

By now, we’ve all heard the traditional origin story of Thanksgiving and the impressive list of historical inaccuracies with said Thanksgiving story, but Reddit’s history buffs know that there are a lot more topics to explore around the holidays.

Take this fascinating post from r/history, for example, on how tropical spices like cinnamon and nutmeg became associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Greatest Turkey Ever Made…

Every November, social media sites light up with carefully framed photos of perfectly basted turkeys on beautifully set tables, earning the praise of friends, family, and followers alike. But on Reddit, one particular Thanksgiving dish has captured users’ respect and upvotes more than any traditional turkey ever could: a “100% edible roasted Alien Facehugger” composed of chicken and crab by u/36monsters.

…And Some Really Close Runners-up

Of course, there are many ways to have a nontraditional Thanksgiving. Perhaps no community has done a better job of proving that than r/shittyfoodporn. Sure, these might not be the most “photogenic” meals, or the most “palatable,” but they are food and they are somewhat Thanksgiving-themed.